timely

Where does one begin to learn screenwriting? Does it start with writing stories? If creating good stories isn't your gift, should you start by adapting existing works into screenplays? Are screenwriters a dime a dozen? :-)

taxguy

I am not a screenwriter,but I do know screen writers. Moreover, I, myself, write best selling books.

I can tell you that most sucessful book and screen writers that I know are very special "cats." Writing a play or book is not something that the average English major does or even can do. Generally, these people have the inborn talent to accomplish this with or without training. The training does help to hone the product or helps to produce ideas on how to sell the product. However, if you are not already writing plays or short stories, you may not be able to learn the craft in college.

In addition, even if you have the talent, you need a great deal of persistance, belief in yourself, and marketing talent to promote your product.
I will leave a screen writer to post here.

timely

Since you know screenwriters, taxguy, maybe you can answer this. Our son doesn't seem to me to have a lot of natural ability in the screenwriting dept. and I think he is bogging himself down writing screenplays rather than just working on filmmaking. (Everyone isn't Peter Jackson, after all.)

Do you know where we could find short screenplays by amateurs (who might not ask for any more payment than a credit)?

taxguy

timely notes,"Do you know where we could find short screenplays by amateurs (who might not ask for any more payment than a credit)?"

I am not sure what you are asking. Perhaps I am tired from my long trip. Please restate your question more clearly.

If your son enjoys writing screen plays, in my opinion, he should be encouraged to follow his passionfor several reasons. First, he will perform better in college if he is taking things that he likes. Second, he will get a better education studying things that interest him. Third, studying screenwriting is a good skill to have for any business since it will hone some creative writing talent.Good writers are always in demand.

He needs to contact the Screen Writers Guild of America. He needs to attend Guild meetings and to make some contacts. He needs to take some practical Guild courses. I think that even if he doesn't make it as a screenwriter, these skills will be transferable to other industries. Just my two cents.

timely

>>I am not sure what you are asking. Perhaps I am tired from my long trip. Please restate your question more clearly.<<

This is what happens when I write messages at 1:30 a.m. I'm awake now, so I'll try again. :-)

Where online could we find screenplays that others have written and my son could use as a basis for a film?

I have done some searching, and I can find sites where you can download screenplays of "your favorite movies and t.v. shows" and sites to help you sell your screenplays, but I can't seem to find out how to buy one or (hopefully) get one for free.

Our son's interest is more in the actual filmmaking rather than the screenwriting, but he seems to think you have to do it all. I'm not discouraging him from working on screenwriting, but I just don't want him to get bogged down with the screenplay and never get around to working on actual filmmaking.

He'd like to work on some short films, and I was thinking *surely* there are short screenplays out there that haven't been produced. I'd think the writers would be willing to let him produce their screenplay in exchange for the screenwriter credit in the film. That way, if our son should win a prize at a film festival, that's a feather in the screenwriter's cap as well.

I found sites where they'd give you a short synopsis of the story, then you had to pay to buy the screenplay. Well, I'm not going to pay for a screenplay I haven't read! That would be foolish.

So, if anyone knows where I might find what I'm looking for, I'd love to hear about it!

alwaysamom

I think it's doubtful that you'll find screenplays which are available to produce into films without a charge. It would be similar to producing an onstage play or musical. The rights are owned by individuals or licensing companies and you have to pay for those rights. Most young filmmakers start out by filming their own screenplays or those of friends. My D has many friends who have done that and who are now in film school at Tisch and USC and UCLA. If your son is interested in screen-writing, he should look into the Dramatic Writing programs. There's an excellent one at Tisch and also one at USC, that I know of, and both have great reputations. If he's interested in the film-making aspect then that's what he should be investigating. Have him look at what the top programs, Tisch, USC, UCLA, Florida, etc. require for their artistic reviews and portfolios. That should guide him in what he should be working on for experience.

taxguy

I do know that Pratt Institute has a creative writing/screenwriting program. It may be easier to get into than NYU. I am wondering if CMU has a simililar program since one person that I know who has written screen plays attended Carngeie Melon University (CMU).

tsdad

Alwaysamom:

It's Florida State not Florida. USC and FSU do not require the submission of a portfolio only a discussion of what you've done.

gregwithag77

My son is really interested in becoming a screen writer
He's been writing since he was in first grade
And he see's his writing being on the big screen.
He is really interested and passionate in his descision
But the wife and I are nervous what if he cant do it?
What colleges are there to even help him?
What form of back up job could he have?

taxguy

gregwithag77, see my prior post number 4. This should address your concerns.

timely

greg, not to worry.... Like your son, mine was always telling stories. He didn't necessarily write them. His brother and sister liked building with Legos, but not him. He wanted them to build him characters and structures so he could play making up stories for them. He wrote his first screenplay (it was pretty bad) when he was 13 or 14. He kept writing and they got better.

One option would be to ask your son to double major in "something practical". My son is a freshman film production/business double major. We didn't ask him to take on the business major; it was something he wanted to do.

As for schools, I would suggest going to :: College Planning Made Easy | Inside Source for College Admissions Requirements . Under "college search" click on "find your match". You can put all your criteria in there and choose screenwriting as a major.

Here is a website for screenwriters that my son really enjoyed. Maybe yours would, too. Zoetrope: All-Story: The Virtual Studio

Taxguy, I thought it was funny to see that your message #4 was a message to me almost exactly 4 years ago. My son isn't a h.s. freshman looking for free screenplays anymore. Now he's a college freshman who loves writing his own. Though he's a film production major, he loves screenwriting just as much. What is your son doing these days?

taxguy

Timely, both sons are working for public accounting firms , although one will be applying for a government accounting job. They will both be seeking their CPA.

I am glad that I gave you the same answer four years ago as I did in post number 4. To me, the answer that I gave in post number 4 remains timeless and true.

lottastrikes

I can't believe I found this thread. We are struggling with a similar dilemna. My son is a senior in HS and LOVES creative writing, and LOVES film, so he would really love to give screenwriting a try in college. He does not want to major in film per se. This is what he wrote to me recently:

"UNC has everything I'm looking for in terms of academic programs/clubs and activities. I spoke to a communications director who said that I'd probably get accepted into their screenwriting minor, and I checked out those really interesting student-run TV shows. The newspaper is prestigious, and UNC has this very unique internship in Hollywood where I could work as a writer. Everything sounds great... but when I visited I didn't see myself there. And, to be honest, I loved GW. When I was walking around its campus, I imagined myself enjoying my time there... but GW is no place for creative writers (not that I've decided that it's what I want to do with my life, but it's a talent that I'd like to develop and pursue on a college level.) What I mean is, the student-run shows there are, as you'd guess, political programs, and their internships are mostly in government offices, and their student activities are nowhere near like the ones at UNC.
So yeah, I'm down to UNC and GW... each of them lacks what the other one advertises. I'm going to a UNC Alumni presentation in the city on Wednesday, and I hope to be either impressed or disgusted by what happens that night, because I really wish this decision was easier. If you have any words of wisdom, I'm all ears. and thanks for helping me out with this.

As parents, how would you advise your son? Follow his dream at UNC in which he doesn't see himself? or go for GW, the school he liked best. By they way, he was also accepted into NYU and BU, but in order to do screenwriting you need to major in Film, which he doesn't want to do.

Any advice?

Thanks!

taxguy

Lottastrikes notes,"
As parents, how would you advise your son? Follow his dream at UNC in which he doesn't see himself? or go for GW, the school he liked best. By they way, he was also accepted into NYU and BU, but in order to do screenwriting you need to major in Film, which he doesn't want to do.Any advice?"

Response: I believe that people can achieve what they perceive IF they try hard enough! My attitude, especially for those that have a lot of time on their side, is to follow their passion and shoot for their dreams. Studying screenwriting is just as good, in my opinion, as majoring in English. If it doesn't work out, they can always trying something else or obtain a masters in another area. I hate thinking about alternatives because I have found that folks who "plan to fail" usually achieve their plan.

timely

Accountants, Taxguy?? Well, I didn't see that coming! The great thing about screenwriting/filmmaking though, is that having another career doesn't preclude you from continuing to work on film stuff.